The Smoke-Free Housing Coalition of Maine

Who We Are The Smoke-Free Housing Coalition of Maine is group comprised of over 50 public health advocates, tenants, landlords, property managers, environmental health professionals and many others.

Our Mission To reduce the number of multi-unit housing residents who are involuntarily exposed to secondhand smoke. Our Vision A State where all citizens can live free from exposure to secondhand smoke.

Tenant Surveys Town/County% YES% NO Androscoggin76%24% Sanford71%29% Brunswick76%24% Total74%26% If available, would you prefer to live in a smoke-free environment?

Analysis provided by Sanford Housing Authority, 2004 & Auburn Housing Authority, 2006 The Financial Burden Smoke-Free UnitSmoking Unit Labor ~ 12hrsx35/hr = $420Labor~ 30hrsx35/hr =$1050 Paint ~ 3 Gallons =$60Paint ~ 4 Gallons =$80 Ceiling Paint~2 Gln =$40Ceiling Paint ~3 Gln =$60 Carpet Shampoo =$50Carpet Shampoo =$50 Primer =$100 Replace Rug Burns =$600 Replace laminates =$800 Total =$570VS. =*$1,340 – $2,740 *Depending on carpet and countertop condition.

Getting the word out… Brochures Over 15,000 educational brochures have been distributed by the Coalition. The brochure was updated in 2006 to include data from Sanford and Auburn Housing Authorities that expressed the extensive cost-savings of a smoke-free policy. This, along with our website, is the most comprehensive piece of education on smoke-free policies available, covering everything from legal protections, cost savings, to the health effects of secondhand smoke.

Getting the word out… Postcards In the last two years we have sent 10s of thousands of postcards to landlords throughout the State which have served to advertise the website, registry, conferences, trainings and our general message.

Smoke-Free Housing Conferences & Presentations In May 2006, the Coalition held two conferences: one in Bangor and one in South Portland. There were 127 attendees, ranging from landlords and tenants to policy makers and health advocates. This conference was the second of its kind in Maine and set into motion a change to make smoke-free housing the norm in the State. Coalition members have also presented at several state-wide and national conferences –In addition, we have been successful in presenting to several public housing authorities, private facilities, and landlord association throughout the State.

Landlord Trainings Six 2 ½ hour landlord trainings were held from June to September –Presque Isle –South Portland –Auburn –Topsham –Augusta –Bangor Nearly 60 landlords, housing professionals, condo owners, health professionals, legal professionals, and others joined the Coalition to learn more about smoke-free housing policy adoption, implementation and enforcement in Maine.

Materials for landlords…Signage We currently offer smoke-free landlords window decals, magnets, and key chains to help enforce their policy. We currently have a limited number of aluminum signs available for smoke-free developments. These products are extremely popular with landlords, and are usually the first thing requested when they join the registry or contact us for further assistance. Hundreds of these items have been distributed since their creation over a year ago.

Media Coverage Smoke-free housing has been in the news about 30 times since inception. Media sources such as the Boston Globe, Portland Press Herald, Bangor Daily News, Sun Journal, Kennebec Journal, WMTW, WCSH, Fox News, several local weeklies and others have all run stories on the initiative in Maine. Other affiliates and partners have run additional articles as well: PTM’s The Link, MaineHousing’s rental guide, HMP’s The Scuttle Butt, Asthma Regional Council’s Innovations, and more.

Materials for landlords & tenants- Fact Sheets Approx. 7500Approx. 2800New in 2007

Informational Video The video was the result of many months of hard work by the Coalition. At 8 ½ minutes in length, the video contains commentary from health professionals, landlords, tenants, housing authority executives, and legal authorities. The message is that smoke-free housing is an example of smart policy that is both easy and legal to implement. Video is currently streaming online and has been played over 1600 times to date. DVDs distributed to 120 landlords, health professionals, policy makers and others with a kit outlining smoke- free housing in Maine and ways to gain further information.

Summer Media Campaign Radio –2 spots on 10 radio stations over 3 months Web banners –On 5 websites consistently for 2 months

E-blasts –Two to tenants and two to landlords –Open and click- through rates were more than 10% higher than average Summer Media Campaign

Results of Media Campaign

Smoke-Free for ME Website The website began in 2005, and in 2006 saw the introduction of a new smoke-free registry. Registry was enhanced in early There are currently 1,635 registered Maine apartments! In Augusta 2007, the site received over 41,000 in the 31 day period. In 2007, the website saw many new additions, including: PDF versions of landlord and tenant fact sheets 8 ½ minute video now streaming on the web Tracking mechanism that allows us to see how many the video has been viewed Registration form for landlord trainings. Updated information and new materials pertaining enforcement and subsidized housing.

Landlord Fact Sheet Distribution To date, 6,500 landlord fact sheets have been distributed to Section 8 landlords though partnerships with: Approximately 1,000 more have been distributed through direct mailings and presentations. The fact sheet is also available in PDF and available for download on the website.  MaineHousing  Auburn Housing Authority  Bath Housing Authority  Biddeford Housing Authority  Brewer Housing Authority  Brunswick Housing Authority  Caribou Housing Authority  Lewiston Housing Authority  Fort Fairfield Housing Authority  Mount Desert, Ellsworth, Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor, and Tremont Housing Authorities  Old Town Housing Authority  Portland Housing Authority  Presque Isle Housing Authority  Sanford Housing Authority  South Portland Housing Authority  Van Buren Housing Authority  Westbrook Housing Authority  Avesta Housing  Aroostook County Action Program  Community Concepts  Penquis Community Action Program  Washington-Hancock Community Agency

MaineHousing Initiatives In 2006, MaineHousing adopted included a one-point incentive to their Qualified Allocation Plan for affordable housing developments that receive housing tax credits or tax-exempt bonds (for the ‘07 year). In 2007, the language was changed to allow developers to not only make the interior smoke-free, but the entire property smoke- free (for the ’08 year). We are currently advocating for the adoption of a smoke-free provision in the 2008 Green Building Standards and turning the current QAP incentive into a funding threshold requirement.

Maine Smoke-Free Housing Authorities Auburn 9/04 (unlimited grandfather) Sanford 9/05 (unlimited grandfather) Bar Harbor 5/06 (24 mo. grandfather) Southwest Harbor 6/06 (unlimited grandfather) Lewiston 6/06 (unlimited grandfather) Brewer 6/06 (12 mo grandfather) Bangor elderly housing 05/07 (no grandfathering) Old Town 7/06 (12 month grandfather) Ellsworth 5/06 (24 mo. grandfather) Mount Desert 5/06 (24 mo. grandfather) Fort Fairfield 7/07(12 mo. grandfather) Waterville 03/07 (unlimited grandfather) Brunswick 07/06 (1 elderly building, grandfathered) *Avesta all new buildings being developed as smoke-free facilities in 2007 (3); and three existing developments smoke-free.

What 07/08 Future Hold? Implementation of the EPA’s Smoke-Free Homes Pledge program. Outreach to tenants through education of Maine’s commuter student population and Maine’s minority communities. Inclusion of a smoke-free icon in Maine’s three leading newspapers for all listings that pledge to be 100% smoke-free apartments. Development of educational materials, as well as outreach, on smoke-free policy in condo associations and behavioral health facilities/housing. Much, much more…

HUGE Rewards for Coalition Efforts… but there is a need for continued support! Approximately 90,000 multi- unit residents (approximately 37% of population) protected through our efforts thus far. Policy change is sustainable. A realistic goal is for smoke- free housing supply to equal demand. Smoke-free housing should be the norm, not the exception!